Small-town market profile · Oklahoma
Tahlequah, OK area market data
Population, household spending and competition for 56 business types in the Tahlequah area, each scored against other small-town markets.
- Population, 2025
- 49,196
- +4.5% since 2020
- Households
- 18,698
- Median household income
- $53,218
- +24.4% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $168,500
- Jobs located here
- 13,276
- Highest market score
- 85
- Insurance agencies, #33 of 537 scored small-town markets
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in the Tahlequah area by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of the Tahlequah area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
An estimated 49,196 people live in the Tahlequah area, in 18,698 households. Population estimates show the Tahlequah area grew 4.5% from 2020 to 2025, faster than the U.S. (+3.1%). The median household income in the Tahlequah area is $53,218 a year, 34% below the U.S. median of $80,734. That rose 24.4% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
Set against the U.S., households in the Tahlequah area spend the most on vehicle insurance (an index of 129, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on memberships, classes and admissions (54).
The highest Groundwork market scores in the Tahlequah area are for insurance agencies (85); lawn care, cleaning and pest control companies (82); and landscaping and lawn care companies (80). The Tahlequah area ranks #33 of 537 scored small-town markets for insurance agencies.
The Tahlequah area is made up of one county, Cherokee County. For its number of households, the Tahlequah area has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for gas stations (72% above the U.S. rate) and the fewest for medical and dental practices (44% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in the Tahlequah area
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares the Tahlequah area with other small-town markets for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among small-town markets | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insurance agencies | 85 | #33 of 537 | 22 | 11.8 | $2.1M | 170 | 11 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 82 | #16 of 481 | 10 | 5.3 | $2.4M | 142 | 13 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | 80 | #19 of 399 | 7 | 3.7 | $3.4M | 117 | 8 |
| Grocery stores | 77 | #34 of 506 | 8 | 4.3 | $12.7M | 137 | 4 |
| Auto repair and car care | 74 | #51 of 538 | 56 | 29.9 | $295K | 110 | 18 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 71 | #51 of 507 | 9 | 4.8 | $6.6M | 158 | 6 |
| Home repair trades | 70 | #56 of 526 | 19 | 10.2 | $2.4M | 100 | 15 |
| Auto repair shops | 70 | #77 of 538 | 36 | 19.3 | $459K | 103 | 7 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 70 | #77 of 538 | 30 | 16.0 | $3.4M | 100 | 9 |
| Gas stations | 62 | #150 of 536 | 35 | 18.7 | $1.6M | 66 | 20 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 62 | #151 of 538 | 88 | 47.1 | $205K | 134 | 37 |
| Convenience stores | 61 | #165 of 529 | 14 | 7.5 | $7.3M | 92 | 5 |
| Physical therapy | 60 | #133 of 400 | 7 | 3.7 | $2.6M | 107 | 4 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 60 | #182 of 536 | 29 | 15.5 | $1M | 119 | 8 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 59 | #180 of 526 | 14 | 7.5 | $1.3M | 131 | 9 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 58 | #156 of 476 | 12 | 6.4 | $3.9M | 81 | 12 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 57 | #215 of 536 | 23 | 12.3 | $1.3M | 104 | 8 |
| Pizza | 56 | #194 of 520 | 15 | 8.0 | $3.9M | 77 | 29 |
| Roofing and gutters | 55 | #112 of 288 | 6 | 3.2 | $7.7M | 91 | Under 3 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 55 | #193 of 533 | 35 | 18.7 | Index only | 131 | 7 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 54 | #208 of 458 | 12 | 6.4 | $1.5M | 84 | 13 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 54 | #245 of 537 | 25 | 13.4 | $2.4M | 77 | 29 |
| Tire shops | 52 | #205 of 431 | 10 | 5.3 | $1.7M | 66 | 3 |
| Real estate | 52 | #249 of 536 | 50 | 26.7 | Index only | 115 | 11 |
| Barbershops | 51 | #194 of 377 | 7 | 3.7 | $2M | 108 | Under 3 |
| Pet businesses | 49 | #297 of 527 | 28 | 15.0 | $495K | 56 | 6 |
| Veterinarians | 48 | #220 of 398 | 8 | 4.3 | $1.7M | 64 | 6 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 48 | #284 of 538 | 186 | 99.5 | $317K | 86 | 70 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 48 | #292 of 529 | 22 | 11.8 | $2.7M | 72 | 6 |
| Hair salons | 48 | #296 of 538 | 35 | 18.7 | $407K | 95 | 8 |
| Child care and preschools | 47 | #253 of 454 | 8 | 4.3 | $781K | 78 | 14 |
| Spas and skin care | 47 | #285 of 504 | 14 | 7.5 | $1M | 116 | Under 3 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 45 | #334 of 538 | 68 | 36.4 | $209K | 98 | 12 |
| Nail salons | 42 | #255 of 387 | 11 | 5.9 | $1.3M | 78 | 3 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 41 | #276 of 400 | 8 | 4.3 | $2.3M | 72 | 4 |
| Car washes and detailing | 41 | #294 of 441 | 8 | 4.3 | $2.1M | 82 | 6 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 39 | #274 of 387 | 11 | 5.9 | $1.3M | 50 | Under 3 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 39 | #388 of 538 | 107 | 57.2 | $551K | 83 | 34 |
| Chiropractors | 37 | #318 of 426 | 11 | 5.9 | $1.6M | 68 | 7 |
| Gyms | 33 | #427 of 506 | 14 | 7.5 | $714K | 55 | Under 3 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | 32 | #149 of 177 | 10 | 5.3 | Index only | 64 | Under 3 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 28 | #481 of 535 | 32 | 17.1 | $312K | 47 | Under 3 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 26 | #345 of 378 | 14 | 7.5 | $714K | 35 | Under 3 |
| Funeral homes | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 2.1 | $690K | 102 | Under 3 |
| Pet stores | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 2.1 | $3.5M | 77 | Under 3 |
| Property management | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 2.1 | Index only | 112 | 3 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 2.1 | $2.5M | 62 | Under 3 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 1.6 | $8M | 78 | Under 3 |
| Collision repair and body shops | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.5 | $16.5M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.5 | $30.3M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Electricians | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.5 | $46.3M | Too few | 3 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.5 | Index only | Too few | Under 3 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.5 | $30.3M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.5 | $16.5M | Too few | Under 3 |
| House cleaning | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | 5 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
Household spending in the Tahlequah area
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $16.5M | $884 | 92 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $54.8M | $2,931 | 113 |
| Food away from home | $59M | $3,156 | 78 |
| Groceries | $101.6M | $5,436 | 86 |
| Personal care products and services | $14.2M | $762 | 76 |
| Child care and other personal services | $6.2M | $334 | 58 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $10M | $535 | 54 |
| Medical and dental services | $18M | $963 | 75 |
| Pets | $13.9M | $741 | 82 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $30.3M | $1,618 | 79 |
| Vehicle insurance | $47M | $2,515 | 129 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $46.3M | $2,475 | 82 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $23.9M | $1,277 | 90 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $249.9M | $13,367 | 80 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in the Tahlequah area
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 49,196+4.5% since 2020
- Households
- 18,698
- Median age
- 38.1
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 66%
- Vehicles per household
- 1.9
- Land area
- 749 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 64
- Median household income
- $53,218+24.4% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $72,290
- Median home value
- $168,500
- Jobs located here
- 13,276
- Daytime population
- 42,397Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in the Tahlequah area?
These figures cover the whole small-town market. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of the Tahlequah area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Counties in the Tahlequah area 1
- Cherokee County, OK47,942 people
Other markets based in Oklahoma 12
- Oklahoma City, OK metro area1,463,267 people
- Tulsa, OK metro area1,037,534 people
- Lawton, OK metro area127,310 people
- Enid, OK metro area62,146 people
- Stillwater, OK area82,972 people
- Shawnee, OK area73,463 people
- Muskogee, OK area66,444 people
- Bartlesville, OK area53,326 people
- Ardmore, OK area48,555 people
- Durant, OK area48,253 people
- Ponca City, OK area43,625 people
- McAlester, OK area43,561 people
Questions
How fast is the Tahlequah, OK area growing?
Population estimates put the Tahlequah area at 49,196 people in 2025, up 4.5% since 2020, faster than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 18,698 households. Against the 2015–2019 survey, median household income rose 24.4%, before inflation.
How much do households in the Tahlequah, OK area spend?
Households in the Tahlequah area spend about $249.9M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $101.6M on groceries and $59M on food away from home. Relative to the U.S., household spending in the Tahlequah area runs highest on vehicle insurance (an index of 129, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on memberships, classes and admissions (54).
Which business types have the highest market scores in the Tahlequah, OK area?
Of the business types scored in the Tahlequah area, insurance agencies (85); lawn care, cleaning and pest control companies (82); and landscaping and lawn care companies (80) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For insurance agencies, that ranks #33 of 537 scored small-town markets.
How does the Tahlequah, OK area compare with the U.S.?
Median household income in the Tahlequah area is $53,218, 34% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 4.5% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $168,500, against $332,700 for the U.S. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for gas stations (72% above the U.S. rate) and lowest for medical and dental practices (44% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. A small-town market is a town of 10,000 to 50,000 people and the county or counties tied to it by commuting. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. 43 of the 56 business types have a score in the Tahlequah area, each ranked against other small-town markets.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in the Tahlequah area. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
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Screening a site or an acquisition in the Tahlequah area?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of the Tahlequah area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.